The Ghost of Graylock

Neil and Bree are sent to stay with their Aunt in upstate New York.  Neil wants to be a ghost hunter so he is excited with the transition to his Aunt’s house. Within walking distance of their new home is an abandoned psychiatric hospital.  The hospital closed more than a decade ago after three mysterious drownings and the  suicide of an accused night nurse. But when the two kids, along with their two new friends, break into the building they encounter mysterious events that cannot be explained. In the days after their visit to the abandoned hospital, Neil and Bree are plagued by horrific visions and nightly visits from a ghost.

As time goes on, they begin to realize that the ghost is one of the drowning victims who wants to bring her murderer to justice. The further the four get to uncovering clues, the more apparent it becomes that Nurse Janet has been unjustly accused and the real murderer is intent on making sure that the truth is never brought to light. Short chapters with cliff-hanger endings and several twists and turns in the plot will ensure that the pages turn quickly.

The House of Months and Years

house of monthsTen year old Amelia is forced to move to a new home with her parents.  She was an only child until now. Now she has to share her life and her parents with her two orphaned cousins, Owen and Matthew. The boys lost their parents as a result of a car crash and now they are part of Amelia’s immediate family. To save Owen and Matthew from further upheaval, Amelia’s parents decide it is best to move into the boys’ home to start their new life together.

From the moment Amelia sets foot on the property, she feels as if she is being watched. Actually, she feels as if it is the house watching her.  As fitful sleep and many days of adjustment drone on Amelia begins to discover secrets about and in her new home. She discovers that this house is a rare architectural design known as a calendar house. It is designed on the principal and numbers associated with time. Four floors represent the four seasons. Fifty-two windows represent the fifty-two weeks in a year. Most design items in the house represent some aspect of time.

Amelia soon discovers that her dreams are being stolen by a mysterious old man who can change into a shadow and simply disappear. He promises her magic, immortality and a chance to escape the life that she no longer wants. She longs for the change but feels reluctant. When she realizes that the change will come at a huge price to her family and herself she knows that she must figure out a way to stop the old man. To do this she will need help from her cousins. The same cousins that she can’t even stand to be with in the same room. If they don’t find a way to work together, life as they know it will be forever changed.

Many students will enjoy reading this book.  It is just a bit spooky and tense but not too much. I feel Amelia was a bit too defiant given her circumstances; however, much of the dialog was very real. I would recommend this book for high third grade and up.